Redshirt senior Taylor Kelly looks to pass downfield. The Sun Devils defeated Utah 19-16 in overtime on Nov. 1, 2014. (Photo by Andrew Ybanez)Redshirt junior quarterback Mike Bercovici made a cameo in Saturday's marathon finish in the closing seconds of regulation at Sun Devil Stadium, but it was sophomore kicker Zane Gonzalez who was the hero in overtime.
ASU struggled to finish in the red zone in the first half, twice settling for field goals from sophomore kicker Zane Gonzalez, but built a 13-6 lead that the Sun Devils took into the locker room when Kelly threw for a 6-yard score to redshirt junior wide receiver Jaelen Strong.
Video by Ben Margiott | Multimedia reporter
As prolific as ASU's offense looked at times, the rust on Kelly's arm appeared evident: After an interception by junior linebacker Paul Gionni on a throw over the middle in the second quarter, another interception that was overturned upon a booth review, and pass in the fourth quarter that was tipped and nearly picked off.
But when it mattered, Kelly was clutch and cool under pressure, even though he failed to lead ASU to victory in regulation.
He finished with 18-32 with 205 yards passing and 55 yards on the ground. Utah's defense was solid in its own right, as the Sun Devil attack, averaging 38.4 points per game, was held to its lowest point total of the season.
Kelly had trouble connecting with Strong in the early going, but established a rhythm when he targeted redshirt junior wide receiver Gary Chambers (two catches for 60 yards) and sophomore wide receiver Cam Smith (2 catches, 21 yards) and junior running back DJ Foster, who caught six passes for 28 yards and ran for 55 yards on nine carries. Foster ceded the spotlight in the backfield to freshman Demario Richard. The workhorse of the Sun Devil backfield rushed for 108 yards on 12 attempts, and rejuvenated the offense when the passing game went stagnant for stretches.
Senior defensive lineman Marcus Hardison, as well as senior safety Jordan Simone (13 tackles) led an impressive effort for ASU on the defensive side of the ball, limiting the Utes to 241 total yards.
Despite scoring its fewest total points all season, ASU was able to come back again on the strength of Gonzalez's leg, which failed once from 50-yards in the first quarter, after cashing in on two separate occasions to get the Sun Devils on the scoreboard.
Kelly and the ASU offense were marching down the field for what looked to be the game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter, but he was sacked by senior defensive lineman Nate Orchard on third down to end the threat.
However, the Utes would be forced to punt with just seconds remaining in regulation, and Bercovici was inserted for Kelly with six seconds to go. There would be no "Jael-Mary" this time, though, as sophomore Marcus Williams intercepted Bercovici's prayer and ended regulation with the score deadlocked at 16.
Though Utah's junior quarterback Travis Wilson and junior running back Devontae Booker posed a formidable threat, they ultimately couldn't overcome ASU's combination of tight coverage in the secondary and pressure up front, and were clearly impacted by the absence of senior wide receiver Dres Anderson in the passing game — Ute receivers managed just 57 yards as a group on the night.
The Utes were also hurt by a lapse in concentration from sophomore kicker Andy Philips, one of the best place kickers in the nation, who missed a go-ahead 36-yard attempt in overtime, pushing it wide right after going 3-3 in regulation from 36, 44, and 50 yards out.
Booker rushed for 146 yards on 37 carries, leading all ballcarriers, while Wilson completed 12-22 attempts and rushed for 44 yards.
With the win, ASU improves to 7-1, and is in sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 South.
Reach the assistant sports editor at smodrich@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @StefanJModrich
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